Posted on: 01-05-08 17:44:35
If you have internet phone, please check 911 policy with your provider.
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Calgary toddler dies after family calls 911 on internet phone
Call routed to emergency centre in another city, causing ambulance delay
A Calgary toddler has died after his family's 911 call via an internet phone service reached a call centre in another city, leaving them waiting for an ambulance, officials said Wednesday.
The family, located in the north end community of Coventry Hills, called the emergency telephone number Tuesday night after discovering the 18-month-old boy unconscious and having trouble breathing. They used a service that transmits calls over the internet.
Their call was answered by a call centre not in Calgary but in the city where their internet phone service provider is based. It's unclear why, but the call was not forwarded to Calgary's 911 call centre.
The family waited 15 to 20 minutes for an ambulance, then asked a next-door neighbour to call the emergency phone number from his land line. An ambulance arrived less than six minutes later.
The toddler was pronounced dead in hospital.
The head of Calgary's Emergency Medical Services, Tom Sampson, said the family did nothing wrong, and his heart goes out to them. He said EMS wants to know why 911 operators in Calgary never received the family's call.
"We need to understand how this connection did not occur and what we can do to ensure that this issue is addressed, not only here in Calgary but frankly across Canada," he said.
Officials remind anyone with internet telephone service to verify the 911 policy with their providers.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/04/30/calgary-toddler.html
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I raised the issue of 911 call with my service provider when I started using the service almost 5 years ago as I have the option to carry my VOIP number while traveling overseas.
They asked me to register one address with them and told me in case of emergency if someone call 911 from my number, the address I given them will pop up at 911 call center and Emergency response will be sent to the registered address regardless my geographical location.
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Dont help others because others have helped you,,,,help others because its the right thing to do!!!
http://www.indopia.in/
Felt I must post the update here regarding the incident Raj mentioned here. This family use to live in Mississauga prior to moving to Alberta. After moving they did not updated their primary address with the VOIP telephone provider and when they called 911 EMS were sent to their registered address in Mississauga.
A little mistake from the family cost them a precious human life. If anyone in the forum using VOIP service and they are planing move, please make sure you inform your service provider immediately.
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Dont help others because others have helped you,,,,help others because its the right thing to do!!!
http://www.indopia.in/
